The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-06-25

"But no appreciation is lavished on
the elevator man. He dries up in lit
tie while. He has to. He receives no
encouragement to give his views ON
matters and things, nobody asks for his
opinion, nobody is concerned about him.
and he is made to feel this every minute
in the day. One signal proof OF this
YOU will find in the effect the business
has on members of the colored race.
You know it's natural with them to be
effusively gracious and benignant.
Well, put colored man running an
elevator and his whole disposition is
changed. He becomes sour, cranky.
He loses all his native politeness, should
he ever have any. and instead of friends
who might aid him. will make enemies.
NV observation is that elevator men ap-
pear different from other people be-
cause they are not treated like other
people"
The views of this young attorney were
impaired to one of the class he spoke
about. man of great elaboration and
as stolid in look and manner as any
other man in the business. Some effort
was needed to get from him an express
sion of opinion, but once started he had
lots to say. Eyes, sir" he went on,
running an elevator does tend to make
man hold his tongue. Medical men
know this well. I'll give you an in
stance. The man who runs the elevator
on the other side of the street, the build
ing just across the way, is barber by
trade. When he came to Chicago he
had no trouble getting first-class job.
He worked in nice shop down town.
but in few days he was discharged.
He got work in another shop and was
discharged again. He was country
barber, though good one. but he was
an awful talker. This habit he acquired
in the country. where he learned his
trade, and whenever he came to shave
man he thought he'd have to say
something. In fact, he couldn't help
himself. That barber would talk about
the weather all day. TWAS all habit,
but the customers didn't like it. They
complained to the boss, the boss would
demonstrate with the barber, but he
always forgot himself and kept on talk
} ing, until at last he'd have to be dis
charged. After awhile he got to be SO
well known that no barber would give
him steady work. They said to him:
You talk too much. Talking to Gus
toners has gone out Of fashion. Break
yourself of the habit He couldn't.
He tried and tried; then . friend told
him to go to doctor.
THE doctor told him what to do in
a minute. He said: ssGet job rum
} ming an elevator; that's the only thing
, that will cure you of talking And il
: did. In two months that barber used
3 to work the elevator all day without
) SAYING q word He never says any
thing now unless first spoken to. ther
Q he answers as briefly as any man can. '
From other sources it was learned
that many rare virtues are required o
, the holder of this exacting position
He must be sober. watchful, and yielt
accomplishing obedience to instruc
. tons. He must know the name o
, every tenant in the building, the foo
4 his Office is on and its number, the Of
: fee hours of all, and, as very often the.
: number two hundred and over, it re
8 quires q pretty good memory to keel
r track of every thing. Then, too. he
J, expected to tell whether Mr.. So-and
So came up on the elevator ''thi
: morning." or '.has he returned from
q lunch yet?" or, If tenant ha
e changed his office, to give his questione
o the address. All these questions ar
y put him hundreds of times during tn
9 day, and hundreds of more times he
q kept busy answering the little registe
8 bell in his cab. He must remembe
Q what Office is wanted by those not IA
!. miliar with the building and not fail t
:. stop the elevator for the ladies VIII
n want to get out at certain floor an
II who forget all about what they wan
( once they commence talking with eac
:. other. When that numerous person
Al the professional funny man, can get n
;e one to listen to his stories it is the dut
L. of the elevator man to hear him meekl..
rs then trust to his intuition to laugh
y the right place. In his lexicon OF dali
g use there is no such word IS ''ches
o nuts" II there was he wouldn't use !
It would tend only to foster argumen
he and he leaves argument to others. II
DIS silence that is golden is the elevate
,g mans. He may be taciturn but .
It, unruly tongue never gets him in
ey trouble. Chicago Ners.
to -
ev Chinese Barbaritv.
s The Pekin courts lately sentenced
Is young man to the lingering death Of